Backsplash structure for stoves



April 21, 1953 H. w. scHULzE BAcKsRLAsH STRUCTURE FoR sTovx-:s

Filed Feb. e, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET l ILIILIIIIIIIII- VIIIIIA/S INVENTOR.Herman W. Schulze FIG. 3

H. w.l scHuLzE BAcxsPLAsH STRUCTURE FoR sTovEs April 2l, 1953 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Feb. 6, 1948 FIG. 6

INVENTOR. Herman W Schulze Atys.

Patented Apr. 21, l 1953 BACKSPLASH STRUCTURE FOR STOVES Herman W.Schulze, Elmwood'Park, Ill., assigner to General Electric Company, acorporationof New York Application February 6, 1948, serial No. 6,682

The present invention relates to electric ranges provided 'with tiltingbacksplash structure, and more particularly to improvements in ranges ofthe character disclosed in the copending applica,- tion of Leo F. Berg,Serial No. 6,631, filed February 6, 1948, now Patent No. 2,554,083,granted May 22, 1951, and assigned to the assignee of the presentapplication. Y

The principal object of the present invention is to .provide in anelectric range including a cooking top and backsplash structure,improved hinge mechanism for mounting the backsplash structure fortilting movement with respect yto the cooking top and improved latchmechanism for controlling the position of the backsplash structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide in an electric range ofthe character noted, improved hinge and latch mechanisms that arearranged positively to eliminate vibratory movementA of the backsplashstructure with respect to the cooking top when the backsplash structureis latched in a substantially upright normal position and to permitready movement of the backsplash structure to a forwardly foldedoperatedv position after it has been unlatched.V A further object oftheinvention is to provide in an electric range of the character noted,.coin b'ination hinge and latchmechanism of improved and exceedingly' simpleconstruction and arrangement.

Further features of the invention pertainto the particular arrangementof the elements of the electric range, whereby the above-outlined yandadditional operating features thereof are attained, f The invention,both as to its organization and method of operation, together withfurther objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood byreference to the following specification taken in connection with theaccompanying .drawings, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary front view ofthe upper portion of an electric rangeembodying the present invention;Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view of the'upper portion of vthe electric range, taken along the line 2-2 in Fig.1, illustrating -the unlatched position of latch mechanism incorporatedtherein; Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view ofthe' upper portion of the electric range, taken alongfthe fline 3-3 inFig. 1, similar toFig. 2, illustrating the latched position of the latchmechanism; Fig. 41s an enlarged fragmentary side view of the upperlportion 'of the -electric range shown inl Fig.

1 Claim. (Cl. 126-214) 1, illustrating the normal position of hingemechanism incorporated therein; Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sideview of the upper portion of the electric range shown in Fig. 1, similarto Fig. 4, illustrating the operated position of the hinge mechanism;and Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary front sectional view of therighthand upper portion of the electric range, taken along the linev 6-6in rFig. 4, further illustrating the details of the hinge and latchmechanisms.

Referring now to the drawings, the electric range Iii there illustrated,and embodying the features of the present invention, comprises anupstanding frame or body IIV provided with a substantially horizontallydisposed cooking top I2 terminating adjacent to the rear thereof in anupwardly directed pedestal I3 carrying upwardly extendingbacksplash'structure I4. The body I I comprises an oven disposed in therighthand upper portion thereof below the cooking top I2 and having anopen front closed by a suitable door I5, the doo-r I5 being hingedadjacent to thelower edge thereof in a manner not shown and providedwith an operating handle I6 positioned adjacent to the upper edgethereof just belowy the Vcooking top I2. Also the body II comprises astorage space vdisposed in the leftehand upper-portion thereof belowthecooking top I2-and receiving a sliding drawer having afront cover I'Ithat is provided Vwith an operating handle I-B positioned adjacent tothe upper edge thereof just below the cooking top I2. Y

The cooking top I2 merges with the top of the body Il and-terminatesadjacent to the rear thereof in the pedestal I3 as previously noted,rwhich pedestal I3 is of hollow construction. Also the cooking top I2has a plurality of openings formed in the left-hand surface thereof inwhich corresponding su-rface heating units are removably secured inplace. Specifically, the left-hand surface of the cooking top I2 hasfour openings formed therein arranged both front and rear and left andright, and removably carrying corresponding surface heating units. Forconvenience the four surface heating units will be referred tohereinafter as the left front, the right front, the left rear and theright rear surface heating units. In passing it is noted that the leftrear surface heating unit may also be lowered below the cookingftop I2`in order to provide a deep-well cooking unit.

In the drawings, the removable left front and right front surfaceheating units are respectively illustrated at I9 and 20, the left rearand right rear surface heating units being hidden by other structure.Also the oven comprises the usual bake and broil heating elements, notshown.

The backsplash structure I4 is of hollow construction and constitutes aninstrument and heating control equipment panel, as well as a lampsupport arranged to illuminate the cooking top I2. Speciiicially, theright-hand portion of the backsplash structure I4 carries the instrumentand heating control equipment, while the left-hand portion thereof hasan opening 2l formed therein in which there is arranged an up.- wardlyand rearwardly sloping light reflector 22, the upper left-hand portionVof the balsfplash structure I4 constituting a light shade. cr hood 23carrying a removable elongated electric lamp 24. Accordingly, theelectric lamp 24 when il. luminated throws light upon the 'curvedreflector 22, whereby the cooking` top I2 is adequately illuminated forcooking purposes. Of course, the baclisplash structure ,I4 also servesthey purpose oi preventing lood cooking in receptacles arranged on thesurface heating units irorn splashingupon the wall of the kitchen. inwhich the electric range lil is disposed; whereas the upper .right-handportion or the cooking top l2 also serves as a Work platiorrn in thepreparation and serving oi food. i Y

Spccincalln the right-hand front surface of the baclrsplash .structureI4 has six openings formed therein and arranged in a lower row and twoadditional openings formed therein and arlflgeli il! B1 Nippel. IQW-ECHT Control Switches 25. 26, 21 and 28 are respectively arranged in thefirst four oi the lower openings from the left to ward the right andrespectively control the eleotric circuits of the left front.; the leftrear, the right rear and the right front surface heating units An oventemperature regulator 2s is arranged in the sith lower opening; and allith control switch 3D is arranged in the sixth lower opening andcontrols the electric circuits of the oven, LA timing mechanism 3l isarranged in the left-hand upper opening and controls the opening and theclosing oi the electric circuits to the oyen in accordance withpredetermined times; and a timing alarm mechanism 32 is arranged theright-hand Looper` opening. This disposison of the instrument andcontrol equipment upon the right-hand iront oi" the backsplash structureI4 provides for ready control of the four surface heating units, as wellas the oven, Y The backsplash structure I4 is mounted upon the pedestalI3 for tilting movement with respect tothe cooking top I2 by anarrangement includin g two hinge mechanisms 40 and 55 respectivelydisposed on the left-hand side and on the righthand side of the range l0and positioned mutual ly within the hollow pedestal I3 and the hollowbacksplash structure I4, More particularlythe baksplash structure I4 ismounted by the hinge mechanisms 40 andrS for tilting movement between o,substantially upright normal position, as illustrated, in Figs. 1 andri, and a forwardly folding operated position. as illustrated in Fig. 5.When the baoksplfasil lllllCllll-e I4 is moved tO its forwardly foldedoperated position, disposed .over the cooking top l2, .the over-allheight o f the range I D is considerably reduced with respect tothenormal height thereof established with the backsplash .structure I4 inits substantially upright normal position.v This arrangement v 1s veryadvantageous as the over-all height` of the range l0 for cratingpurposes incident to ship.- ping may be considerablyreduced-eventllollsl'l i right hinge mechanism 50 comprises a stationarysection Bland a movable section 52. The stationary hinge section 5I issubstantially L-shaped including a downwardly directed body 53 and anoutwardly directedV ange 54 suitably secured to the lower surface of awall 13a of the pedestal I3. Similarly, thev movable hinge section 52 issubstantially L-shaped including a downwardly directed body 55 and anoutwardly directed ange 55 suitably secured to the top surface of abottom wall Ille of the backsplash structure I4. The bottom wall Ma, ofthe backsplash structure I4 has a large transversely extending opens ingI4b formed therein; while the top wall I3Na of the pedestal I3 has anarrow rearwardly extending slot Ix formed in the right-hand thereof inalignment with the right-hand end of the opening Mb; whereby the body 55oi the movable hinge section 52 projects through the aligned openingI41b and the slot l3nt when the backsplash structure occupies itssubstantially upright normal position as illustrated in Eig. i. Thedownwardly projecting body 55 of the movable hinge section 52 isprovided with a. forwardly curved arm 51 having an opening formedtherein into which a pintle 58 is arranged, the pintle 58 being rigidlysecured in an opening formed in the iront edge of the body 53 of thestationary hinge section 5I.

Whenthe baclssplash structure I4 occupies its substantially uprightnormal position as illustrated in Fig, 4, the bottom wall I4a of thebacksplash structure I4 is arranged in superimposed relation withrespect to the top wall I3a of the pedestal I3; and the movable hingesection 52 rigidly secured to the backsplash structure I4 occupies itsfully downwardly projected position with respect to the. stationaryhinge section 5l rigidly secured to the pedestal I3, The back splashstructure I4 may be moved from its substantiallyV upright normalposition to its forwardly folded operated position by pulling forwardlythereon with respect to the cooking top I2. At this time the movablehinge section 55 rides .upwardly and forwardly in the slot I3 formed inthe top wall I3@ of the pedestal I3 with respect to the stationary hingesection 5l whereby the backsplashv structure I4 is tilted or rotated inthe counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 4 and 5. Finally, thebody 53 of the stationary hinge sectionV 5l carries a forwardlyprojecting stop pin 59 adjacent to the front thereof just below theflange 54, which is adapted to engage the inside of the curved arm 51provided on the body 55 ofthe movablehinge section .52; therebypositively Ato llimi-t further tilting of the backsplash .structure I4toward the cooking top i12., as. illustrated in Fig- 5. This stoparrangement incorporated in the hinge mechanism 5.0 positivelypreventsthe instrument and heating control vequipment 25, etc., carried on thefront .0f the backsplash structure I4 from striking the ad;- jacentsurfaceof the cooking top I2. The curvas ture lof the arni5l providedon,k the body Y55 ci ,14 projecting through the bracket 1I.

the' movable hinge section 52 is selected with respect to the `positionof the pintle 58 carried by the body 53 of the stationary hinge section5I in order to prevent binding of the lower front edge of the backsplashstructure I4 and the upper Afront edge of the pedestal I3 or undesirablescraping of these adjacent parts over each other incident to tiltingmovement of the backsplash structure I4.

In view of. the above description of the right `hinge mechanism 50, itwill be understood that l:the left hinge mechanism 40 is substantiallyidentical except for the reversal of parts, and

comprises corresponding elements 4I and 42; the hinge section 4I beingrigidly secured to the pedestal I3 and the hinge section 42 beingrigidly secured to the backsplash structure I4; all for thepurposepreviously explained.

Further the range I comprises two latch mechanisms 60 and 1I!respectively cooperating with the hinge mechanisms 40 and 50 for thepurpose .ofcontrolling the position of the backsplash. structure I4.Preferably, the latch mechanisms 60 and 10 are substantially identicalbeing respectively left and right;.and as best shown in Figs. 4 and 6,the right latch mechanism 10 comprises a substantially U-shaped bracket1I provided with outwardly directed flanges 12 and 13 suitably securedto the lower surface of the top wall I3a of the pedestal I3 adjacent toand toward. the left from the right hinge mechanism 50. Also the rightlatch mechanism 10 comprises an elongated substantially cylindricallatch bar 14 disposed just .below the top wall I3a of thepedestal I3 andprojecting throughtwo aligned openings IIa formed in the bracket 1I.lThe left-hand end of the latch bar 14 terminates in a downwardlyprojecting handle 15; and the right-hand end of the latch bar 14terminates in a gradually tapered or pointed end or nose 16, the centerline of the end of the nose 76 being offset upwardly with respect to thecenter lineI of the latch bar 14, as clearly indicated in Fig. 6. Thenose 16 of the latch bar 14 is arranged to project through two alignedholes 53a and 55a respectively provided in the bodies 53 and 55 of .therespective stationary and movable hinge sections I and 52 when thebacksplash structure I 4 occupies its substantially upright normal.position. The latch bar 14 is normally biased toward the right in orderto force the nose 16 into the openings 53a and 55a when they arearranged in substantial alignment by an arrangement including a:coilspring 11 positioned in the bracket 1I and surrounding the portion ofthe latch `bar One end of the coil spring 11 bears upon the left-handside of the bracket 1I while the other end thereof bears against a pin18 arranged in an opening formed in the latch bar 14 adjacent to therighthand side of the bracket 1I.

When the latch mechanism 10 occupies its normal latched position asillustrated in Fig. 6, the coil spring 11 biases the latch bar 14ytoward the right through the holes 53a and 55a, thereby drawingtogether the two hinge sections 5I and 52 of the hinge mechanism 50 whenthe backsplash structure I4 occupies its substantially upright normalposition. Any tendency of the backsplash structure I4 to vibrate withrespect to the pedestal I3 is prevented by virtue of the fact that eachtime the holes 53a and 55a move toward a position of greater alignmentthe coil spring 11 thrusts the nose 16 of the latch bar 14 furthertoward the right thereinto. According- 6 ly, the tapered nose 1 6 of thelatch bar 14 has a tendency constantly to tighten the closure of thehinge sections 5I andf52 of the hinge mechanism 50 in order furthertourge the backsplash structure I4 into its nal substantially uprightnormal position.

In view of the above description of the right vlatch mechanism 10, itwill be' understood that the .left latch mechanism 60 is substantiallyidentical. except for the reversal of parts, and comprises correspondingelements 6I, 64, 65,` 66 Aand 61; the latch bar .64 being thrust towardthe .left by the coil spring 61 acting -against the 'bracket 6I in orderto force the nose 66 of the latch bar 64through the aligned openingsformed in the bodies of the respective hingesections 4I and 42 of thehinge mechanism 40; allfor the purpose previously explained.

Itis noted vthat the latch bar `64 of the left latch'mechanism 60 isconsiderably shorter. than the latch bar 14 of the right latch mechanism10; whereby the respectively downwardly directed handles 65 and 15thereof are arranged to the left of the vertical center line of therange I0 below and respectively oiset toward the left and toward theright with respect to the center line of. the rear right surface.heating unit. .The latch mechanisms 60 and 10 normally occupy theirlatched positions illustrated in Figs.. 1. and 3 and'when it isdesirable to operate them to their unlatched positions illustratedinFig. ,2, the serviceman raises the right rear surface heating unitfrom the cooperating opening formed in the cooking top I2. At this timethe serviceman may reach through the right rear opening .formed in thecooking top I2 and seize the handles 65 and 15. When the handles 65 and15 are then gripped together, the latch bars 64 and 14 are respectivelymoved toward the right `and toward the left from their normal latchedpositions illustrated in Fig. 3 to their operated un- .maybe operated ineither direction with respect .to the pedestal I3 in the mannerpreviously ex- .plained.

As best shown in Figs. .4 and 5 the top of the body II terminates ininwardly directed marginal flanges 9|, and the bottom Wall of thecooking top I2 and the pedestal I3 terminate in inwardly directed anges92the cooperating flanges 3| ,and 92 being suitably secured together inorder to retain the cooking top I2 andthe pedestal I3 in position on topof the body I I. Likewise the top of pedestal I3 terminates in top wallI3a, and the bottom of backlash structure I4 terminates in the bottomwall I4a, the walls I 3a and I4a being arranged to cooperate with eachother when :the backsplash structure I4 occupies its substantiallyupright normal position. Since the bottom wall I4a of the backsplashstructure I4 is spaced vertically a short distance above the top wallI3a of the pedestal I3 by the hinge mechanisms 40 and 50, a trim 95 issecured to the lower surface of the bottom wall I4a; whereby the trim 95is positioned between the cooperating walls I3a and I4a when thebacksplash structure I4 occupies its substantially upright normalposition. thereby to conceal the gap between the backsplash structure I4and the pedestal I3.

In accordance with the disclosure of the previously mentioned Bergapplication, iiexible electrical wiring is provided in the range I0 andex- .tends through-the. hollow pedestalV I3 and the hollowbacksplashstructure III in order to interconnect the various instrument andcontrol switches 25, etc., carried on the front of the backsplash panelI4, the Vsurface heating units I9, etc., the oven heating elements, notshown, and a power panel, not shown, carried by the frame or body II;which ilexible electrical wiring extends through an opening, notshown,formed in the top wall I3a of the pedestal I3 and through the openingIdb formed in the bottom wall I4c of the backsplash structure I4,thereby accommodating the tilting movement of the backsplash. structureI4 with respect to the pedestal I3. Also it isl preferablev that amaster controller, not shown,

be incorporated in this wiring in accordance with. thedisclosure of theBerg application mentioned; whereby the master controller interrupts thepower connections between the power panel and the instrument and controlswitches 25., etc., carried on the front of the backsplash structureItwhen the backsplash structure I4 is moved -from its substantiallyupright normal position to its forwardly folded operated position.

In View of the foregoing description of the construction and arrangementof the tilting backsplash structure Id, it will be understood that afterthe range lil has been installed in a kitchen, the electrical wiringarranged in the hollow pedestal I3 and in the hollow backsplashstructure I4, as well as the instrument and control switches 25, etc.,carried by the front of the backsplash structure I4 are readilyaccessible from the front of the range lil for adjustment and repair;all without moving the range I0 from its installed position in thekitchen. In order to accomplish this end the repairman merely removesthe right rear surface heating unit, operates the handles 65 and T5, andthen vmoves. the backsplash structure I4 to its forwardly foldedyoperated position disposed over the cooking top I2. At this time aremovable covernot shown, provided on the rear of the backsplashstructure I4 may be removedywhereby the interior of the. electricalwiring arranged in the .hollow backsplash structure I4, as well as theterminals and other mechanical portion of the instrument and controlswitches 25, etc., are

readily accessible from the front of the range I0.

f In View of the foregoing', it is 'apparent that .ment of theinvention, it will be understood that various modifications may be madetherein, and

it is intendedV to; cover in the appended claim-al1 such modificationsas fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

In an electric range including a cooking top, laterally extendingbacksplash structure arranged adjacent to the rear of said cooking top.said cooking top having an opening therein disposed forwardly wthrespect to said backsplash structure, a heatingv unit removably arrangedin said opening. and a pair of laterally spaced-apart hinge mechanismssecured to said cooking top and to said backsplash structure formounting said backsplash structure tor tilting movement with respect tosaid cooking top between a substantially upright normal position and afor'- wardly folded operated position; the combination comprising a pairof laterally spaced-apart latch members slidably mounted in a concealedposition beneath said cooking top and directly below said backsplashstructure in its normal upright position, said latch members beingarranged intermediate said hinge'mechanisms and slidable laterallybetween inwardly retracted unlatohed positions and outwardly extendedlatched positions, the outer end of each ci said latch members beingdisposed in such a way as to pass when in latchcd position through anrst hole in the stationary portion of the hinge' and a second hole inthe movable portion of the hinge, thus preventing relative motionbetween the two hinge portions, saidL latch member being' retractablefrom' the hinge holes in order to release said backsplash structure fromits normal'upright position into its substantially horizontal operatedposition, spring means biasing said latch members into their latchedposition, and a pair of adjacent manually operable handles respectivelycarried by the inner ends ofl said latch members and disposed just belowand rearwardly of said opening in said cooking top in order to permitconvenient simultaneous sliding of' said latch members from theirlatched positions into their unlatcl'ied positions against the bias ofsaid spring' means by the grasping, action of an operator whose arm isinserted through said opening in said cooking top when said heating.unit is removed therefrom, such action rendering-unnecessary access byIthe operator to the rear of the range.

HERMAN W. SCHULZE.

References Cited in the lle of this patent.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 'Number Name Date 1,431,211 Bourke Oct. 1G, 19221,658,408 Lathrop Feb. 7, 19.28 1,835,339- Ghittino Dec. 8 19312,215,606 Dunn Sept. 24, 1940 2,453,832 Dadson- Nov. 16,l 1948

